rivers



(Model.)

T. L. RIVERS..

HANDLE.

No. 381,646. Patented Apr.n 24, 1888.

b W N llUNrrnn Srnrns Fn'rnNr' @erica THOMAS LANGDON RIVERS, OF NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY.

HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION formimy part of Letters Patent No. 381,646. dated April 24, 1888.

Application died February 25, 1857. Serial No. 228,363. (Modclj To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l. TnoMns LANGDON Riv- ERs,a citizen of the United States, residing` at Newark,in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improveinent. in Trunk-Handles, of which the following is a specification.

Myinveution relates to au improvement in trunk-handles adapted for use on trunks or cases of any kind which are intended to be frequently handled; and the invention consists in the novelarrangement of the parts by which the handle when not in use is drawn down to the side ofthe said trunk, so as to occupy as little room as possible, thus enabling said trunks or eases to be packed very closei y together, and, furthenin certain details ofcoir struction, substantially as hereinafter` clearly described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be fully nnderstood and the advantages thereof appreciated, l illustrate a trunk provided with a handle embodying my improvements in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an cud elevation thereof. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device detached. Fig. 3 is a section on the line .fc as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line y y, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is asimilar view with the handle raised in its operative position. Fig. 6 is atransverse section of one ofthe brackets on the lineeJ .2,Fig. l. Fig. is a detail perspective view' of one ofthe brackets. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the handle. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line a ci, Fig. 3.

Referring tothe drawings, in which similar letters denote corresponding-parts in all the fig ures, A A designate the brackets or handlecaps,each of `which consists of a casting having the armsB B, connected at the upper ends by the crosspiece C and at the lower ends by the crosspiece D,each of which cross'pieccs or ends is rabbeted on the inner side, as at c d, to receive and hold the ends of the flat steel spring E, that extends the entire length of thebracket between the said rabbeted ends.

F represents ears formed integrally with the arms B B on the outer side thereof, and F is a similar ear formed with the end piece, C, each of which cars is provided with an opening to receive a screw to secure said ,bracket to the trunk.

G designates a cross brace or plate cast integrally With the bracket and extending across the space between the arms B B near the upper ends thereof, and flush with the outer snrfaces of said arms, the inner or rear sides of the arms being recessed and provided with the sockets or bearings H, which sockets are open on the rear side, as seen in Fig. 6.

I represents the handle, having the bar K, concave-convex in cross-section, with the concave side outward, near the ends of which bar are formed the integral vertical arms L, provided at the upper end with the carnface Z, and having the laterally-extending trunnions or studs M to bear in the sockets Hin the arms B B. The said canrface Z is adapted to operate on the upper or outer surface of the spring E, the center of which, as will be seen in Fig. 4, is raised from the surface of the end of the trunk, so that when the handle is raised said carn-face will force the center of said spring down or in, and when the handle is released the spring will draw the outer end thereof back to its former position against the side of the trunk and hold it firmly in that position. Vhen the handle is in its raised position, as ivill be seen in Fig. 5, the arms L are not hori- Zontal, but inclined slightly downward, the upper surface of said arms bearing against the lower edges of the crossbraces G, which serve as stops for the vertical movement of the handle. NVhen the handle is in its lowered or normal position, the upper or outer surfaces of the arms L are flush with the outer surfaces of the arms B, and an integral rib or web, N, on the under side of the arm L is adapted to be received in a recess, n, formed in the end D therefor. The offsets or knobs O are formed on the rear side of the bai-K, to hold said bar from contact with the side of the trunk and aid the convexity of the rear side of said bar in rendering it easy to insert the ends of the fingers to raise said bar.

The object in forming the outer surface of the bar K concave in cresssection is to reduce as much as possible the weight of the device Wit-hout depriving it of the requisite strength.

It will be understood that the ribs on the reverse side of the arms L are designed as IOO strengthening-webs, to render said arms capa` ble of bearing the required amount of weight, and the cross-brace G .is made sufficiently wide to bear the leverage brought upon it when the handle is in use.

The device is so constructed as to have an immense amou nt ofstrength, the handle is convex on the under side togive an easy and comfoi-table hold to the hand, and the said hand cannot by any means come in Contact with the side ofthe trunk while holdingr the handle, (this being a great improvement over the leather handles now in general use on trunks.) Further, when not in use, the handle is drawn down close to the side of the trunk and prevented from rattling or swinging out and coming in the way by thespring E, and if by chance the handle after being used should remain in the extended position it will be readily understood that the moment an object should touch the said handle it would spring into its normal or lowered position, for the reas/on that when raised it is in the inclined position before mentioned. Further, the handle is much stronger than the ordinary leather handle, and is therefore cheaper, for the reason that it will not wear out and cannot break, this being a great fault of the said old forms of handles. Further, it is also cheaper, more durable, andsimpler than any previously-invented forms ot metal handles, being designed to bear any amount of strain liable to be put upon it and to have a light, neat, and ornamental appear- 4 ance.

It will be understood that the rib N on the ends L of the handle-bar K fits in the recess 'n of the bracket H when the handle is thrown down, and this prevents the handle from being jammed laterally out of place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. Ahandle for trunks and thelike, comprising the hollowbrackets formed with ledges, the spring E, seated at its ends on the ledges, and the handle I, journaled at each end in sockets of the brackets,and having its ends at thejournals bearing on the spring between the ledges, whereby said spring serves to hold the handle closed down to the trunk, as set forth.

2. In a handle for trunks and the like, the brackets A, comprising the side arms, B, connected by cross-pieces, the lower cross-piece, D, having a recess, a, combined with the handle comprising the bar K and the ends L, the

latter being journaled in the brackets and provided with the ribs N along theinner side,the said ribs being tted in the recesses a when the handle is closed down against the trunk, as set forth.

3. A handle for trunks and the like, comprising the brackets having ledges, a crossbar, G, located between the ledges, said crossbar limiting the upward movement of the handle and holding the latter in an inclined position, the spring E, seated at its ends upon the ledges, and thus leaving the intermediate portion of the spring free, andthe handle comprising the bar K and ends L, the latter being pivoted in sockets of the brackets and bearing upon the spring at all times, the lower edge of the barK being turned or curved outward, and offsets or knobs O, provided on the inner face of thebar K, as set forth.

In testimony thatIcl-aim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS LANGDN RIVERS.

XVitnesses:

LEWIS H. SMITH, WM. KATZELER. 

